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Updated: Mar 30, 2026
Microvascular Decompression: Salient Surgical Principles and Technical Nuances
Published on: July 5, 2011
Cavernous Malformation in the Trigeminal Distribution: A Case Report of Aggressive Presentation and Management
João Thiago Frossard1, Flavio Domingues1, Pedro Neves2
1Service of Neurosurgery and Post Graduation Program of Surgical Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Background:
Cavernous malformation (CM) is a vascular malformation found in the encephalic parenchyma, spinal cord, nerve roots, and extraneural tissue. CM in the trigeminal distribution is exquisitely uncommon and its biological behavior not completely understood. The clinical picture might be diverse, depending on the affected sector of the trigeminal architecture, and literature debating its pathobiology is scarce.
Case Description:
We describe a case of 56-year-old woman who presented with left trigeminal neuralgia and a rapidly growing cavernous malformation of the entire distribution of the fifth nerve. The clinical picture evolved to a progressive gait ataxia and follow-up neuroimaging showed a large intracranial mass leading to a brainstem compression. After microsurgical resection, the mass proved to be a typical CM of the trigeminal root.
Conclusion:
We present an uncommonly aggressive progression of a CM of the trigeminal root, Gasserian ganglion, and cavernous sinus evolving to severe brainstem compression. The documentation of this unique case as well as its management is presented is discussed.
